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The 8 Worst Things About iOS 6

The 8 Worst Things About iOS 6

1. Cramped App Store

Although the Apple App Store's makeover is an improvement in aesthetics, search results are limited to one at a time via the iPhone, so you have to do a lot more scrolling. In theory, it's smart to highlight quality over quantity, but it doesn't always hit the mark. Plus, the layout is a bit cramped.

2. Maps Apps

Apple's new Maps app has been perhaps the most discussed — and most griped about — new feature on iOS 6 so far. In addition to the app omitting transit directions, users discovered that mapping imagery included a confusing cluster of broken roads, misplaced clouds and national monuments all out of whack.

3. YouTube App

Although everyone has been buzzing about the missing the Google Maps app, the Google-owned YouTube app is gone too. However, unlike Google Maps, a new (superior) version is downloadable via the Apple App Store.

4. Too Much Facebook

When Apple opened up social integration to Facebook, which will be key for allowing users to share pictures and post status updates without having to log into the app, it also merged your Facebook contacts and calendar automatically. The good news is that it's possible to turn off the default function if you feel overwhelmed with information.

5. Inconsistent Fonts

The Find My iPhone feature includes a font we haven't seen on iOS before, and it's inconsistency with the rest of the software has some perplexed.

6. Inconsistent Colors

Although some seem to love the color changes made to certain built-in apps, others are bothered that the new schemes aren't consistent throughout the interface. For example, the main coloring for the phone app went from black to silver, while the camera app went from silver to black.

7. Constant Alerts

iOS 6 has introduced a slew of new features to keep you on top of meetings, birthdays and events, but it also loves to remind you over and over (and over) again when things are coming up or there is a change to iCloud calendars you're subscribed to.

8. Buggy Calendar

Tapping "Today" button in the Calendar app can cause it to become skittish for some users. In fact, it can sometimes scroll mysteriously moving all by itself. Gremlins or just a bug?

Apple's new Maps app, which replaced the existing Google Maps app, a mainstay of iOS for five years, has been widely criticized since the upgrade was made available earlier this week. In addition to the app omitting transit directions, users discovered that mapping imagery included a confusing cluster of broken roads, misplaced clouds and national monuments all out of whack.

There are a few other things that have had us scratching our heads this week, from inconsistent fonts and colors, more — and slightly obtrusive — calendar alerts and a redesigned App Store that is more difficult to navigate. The good news, however, is that with the exception of the new Maps app, all of the quirks are relatively small. Check out the gallery above for our picks for the top 10 things bugging us most about iOS 6.

What's your biggest pet peeve about the new software? Let us know in the comments below.

The 10 Best Things About iOS 6

1. 3G FaceTime

FaceTime has long been a great way to video chat with friends and family, but both parties needed to be on a Wi-Fi network in order for it to work. Now, FaceTime works over cellular and you can even take calls on your iPad using your phone number.

2. Passbook

Passbook may not be a digital wallet, but it's certainly warming the public up to what could be the next big wave in mobile payments. It allows you to store anything from movie tickets to gift cards and boarding passes for flights.

What's even better is an option that senses when you are in the area of the movie theater or airport and reveals your ticket on the lock screen, so you don't even need to open up the app. Starbucks, Walgreens, Fandango and various airlines have already signed on to support Passbook functionality.

3. VIP Email

Inundated by junk email and miss the important ones? Set up a VIP list, so you’ll never miss emails from your boss, best friend or loved one.

4. Maps App

Although the new Maps app doesn't include routing and transit directions -- which is perhaps the biggest overall gripe among iOS 6 users so far -- it still touts some impressive features. For example, by accessing the satellite view in Maps for cities such as New York, San Francisco and London, users are treated to 3D imagery. Attention to detail is so spot on that it almost looks like you're flying through streets as though you were in a video game.

5. Facebook Integration

Apple has opened up social integration to Facebook, allowing users to share pictures and post status updates without having to log into the app. You can also merge your Facebook contacts and calendar with your iOS calendar, so you no longer have an excuse if you forget a friend's birthday.

6. Smarter Siri

Siri has been the maven of answering questions via voice-command for about a year now, but she just got a whole lot smarter. From providing movie and restaurant recommendations and revealing professional sports scores to even sending tweets and Facebook updates, action-commands are much easier with Siri on iOS 6. Although it's still not perfect -- she was way off with the weather recently -- it's a big improvement over Siri's existing presence on iOS 5.

7. A Social Photo Stream

Apple has introduced photo-sharing capabilities in its Photo Stream that allows users send a picture from their stream to a person or group of people for comments. Similar to Facebook or Instagram, people invited to the group can Like images and write comments.

8. Panorama

Want to capture that big redwood tree or the entire Golden Gate bridge? Now you can with the new panorama feature for the iPhone and iPod touch. It allows you to shoot up to 240 degrees, even vertically.

9. Message Reply

When you decline an incoming call, you can instantly reply with a text message, set a callback reminder or even create a pre-set message to let the caller know you are driving.

10. Do Not Disturb

Do Not Disturb allows you to set up a time for incoming calls to be silenced. But you can also create a list of people that can get through to you at any time, such as a family member calling in the middle of the night.

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